this ambitious foreign policy agenda. >> what was hillary clinton's initial reaction when you told her look, they're actually considering you as possibility for secretary of state. >> she didn't believe it. >> reporter: he is one of clinton's closest aides. >> i e-mailed her, i think it was the friday after the election day after hearing it from two reporters. and her reply was, not for a million reasons. >> if she hesitated, why not just say no? >> i think she did, or she came very close, i think the president persuaded her. >> reporter: clinton was quickly confirmed, but how would she get along with the man who defeated her campaign? could she work for him? >> everybody expected there would be a lot of division, secretary of clinton going behind his back. >> reporter: so was there any tension between the people at the top? >> i think everybody has been surprised. >> reporter: surprised that while secretary clinton and president obama have been separated often as she travels the world, they have maintained a unified front. >> and she has spoken of that relationship, you know, once adversearies,